Par Interlude
Neil Phillips
Hello Roger, Keith, Jon and Mick,
I haven't been in touch lately so I hope it's not too late to wish you all a Happy New Year!
I went for a walk around the St Blazey this afternoon to survey the damage left by Storm Goretti (a storm over Britain given an Italian name by the French?!) - perhaps inevitably fir trees seem worst affected with large portions being ripped off. I was aware that, yet again, no trains were running on the Newquay branch (and today's china clay empties had been cancelled); also tree trouble at Middleway Crossing had cut the electricity supply to many homes in the area. So I was surprised to arrive at the crossing to find the barriers down and the lights flashing, but nothing signalled. There were many cars and pedestrians waiting to cross, and two Network Rail engineers quickly appeared and hand-pumped the barriers to allow people to get on with their day!
I then made my way around to Par station, arriving just in time to see an unidentified 9-car IET pass through without stopping - this was the late-running 5Z77 13.50 empty stock move from Penzance to London (North Pole IET Depot) which would be curtailed at Plymouth. Shortly afterwards, XC 221116 arrived on 1V52 07.03 Edinburgh - Penzance running to time. I wonder what kind of mileages these units have now clocked up?
It has already been four weeks since the HST finale, the CRS coverage of this poignant day was as thorough as I expected so I thought I had little to add. I had noticed the 'HST happy hour' at Par (15.30 - 16.30) so targeted that, and the returning last service train and special close behind around 18.30, until it became clear that the last Cornish GWR HST working of all would run from Newquay four hours later, so went to record that instead! I see that the 'GWR HST Finale' feature does not include a view of this last-one-of-all at Par, so I hope you can accept my belated image attached to insert just above Jon's atmospheric shot of this historic working at Bodmin Parkway at the foot of the feature. As I watched the train's red tail lights disappear from view the emotion of the moment reminded me of the same feeling I had experienced driving back from the site of the former Patney & Chirton station on the Berks & Hants line having just witnessed the passage of D1013 & D1023 on the last leg of the final 'Western' special on its way back to Paddington at 22.15 on 26th February 1977 - nothing could quite surpass that day, whilst acknowledging that the 'Westerns' had only clocked up just over 15 years compared to the HSTs' incredible 49!
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
I haven't been in touch lately so I hope it's not too late to wish you all a Happy New Year!
I went for a walk around the St Blazey this afternoon to survey the damage left by Storm Goretti (a storm over Britain given an Italian name by the French?!) - perhaps inevitably fir trees seem worst affected with large portions being ripped off. I was aware that, yet again, no trains were running on the Newquay branch (and today's china clay empties had been cancelled); also tree trouble at Middleway Crossing had cut the electricity supply to many homes in the area. So I was surprised to arrive at the crossing to find the barriers down and the lights flashing, but nothing signalled. There were many cars and pedestrians waiting to cross, and two Network Rail engineers quickly appeared and hand-pumped the barriers to allow people to get on with their day!
I then made my way around to Par station, arriving just in time to see an unidentified 9-car IET pass through without stopping - this was the late-running 5Z77 13.50 empty stock move from Penzance to London (North Pole IET Depot) which would be curtailed at Plymouth. Shortly afterwards, XC 221116 arrived on 1V52 07.03 Edinburgh - Penzance running to time. I wonder what kind of mileages these units have now clocked up?
It has already been four weeks since the HST finale, the CRS coverage of this poignant day was as thorough as I expected so I thought I had little to add. I had noticed the 'HST happy hour' at Par (15.30 - 16.30) so targeted that, and the returning last service train and special close behind around 18.30, until it became clear that the last Cornish GWR HST working of all would run from Newquay four hours later, so went to record that instead! I see that the 'GWR HST Finale' feature does not include a view of this last-one-of-all at Par, so I hope you can accept my belated image attached to insert just above Jon's atmospheric shot of this historic working at Bodmin Parkway at the foot of the feature. As I watched the train's red tail lights disappear from view the emotion of the moment reminded me of the same feeling I had experienced driving back from the site of the former Patney & Chirton station on the Berks & Hants line having just witnessed the passage of D1013 & D1023 on the last leg of the final 'Western' special on its way back to Paddington at 22.15 on 26th February 1977 - nothing could quite surpass that day, whilst acknowledging that the 'Westerns' had only clocked up just over 15 years compared to the HSTs' incredible 49!
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
Middleway Crossing, St Blazey c16.00 - barriers down, lights flashing but no trains! A Network Rail engineer has just raised one barrier by hand-pumping and is about to assist another (who can just be seen through the gap) raise the other one, to release the flow of people and cars (and a now-delayed bus!) The lights continue to flash, with one set appearing to be facing the wrong way. 10.01.2026, copyright Neil Phillips.
Class 221 set 221116 pauses at Par with 1V52 07.03 Edinburgh - Penzance. The rusty rails on the right tell their own story - no trains to Newquay! 10.01.2026, copyright Neil Phillips.
43156 backed up by 43189 about to depart Par at 22.35 with 2P97 21.22 Newquay - Plymouth and pass into the history books......by accident! 13.12.2025, copyright Neil Phillips.
Many thanks Neil, great post-storm report and a nice look back to December too. I've added your HST photograph to the feature.
Loco And Unit ID's Plus A Bus!
Karl Hewlett
I've managed to catch up with the CRS after a fairly busy Christmas and New Year with relatives coming down from up north, so I can now ID some other locos and stock posted this month.
In David Tozers article 'But Now A Museum Piece', HST power car W43002 23/03/76, the class 08 dragging this is 08573.
In David Tozers article 'But Now A Museum Piece', HST power car W43002 23/03/76, the class 08 dragging this is 08573.
43002 being shunted at Derby by 08573. 26.03.1976, copyright David Tozer.
In Roger Winnen's January 1976 Part 3 the DMU is P481 class 118: 51312 + 51327.
P481 passing Sandplace on the Looe Branch. 03.01.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
In his Part 5 the DMU is P588 class 119: 51079 + 59437 + 51107.
The 09.30 ex Penzance at Devonport. 17.01.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The Western at Laira, I confirm that Roger has correctly identified this as D1068 'Western Reliance'.
D1068 'Western Reliance' - and 50007 at Laira. 17.01.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
In Part 7 the GWR bus he took a photo of is No 73 (the running number is on the side), this is a 30HP Milnes-Daimler Reg: AF 211, built in 1906 and was withdrawn by 1926, its body is probably by coach builder Dodson. The GWR used several manufacturers and body designers, even going as far as converting them to lorries and back to omnibuses. One underframe was only bodied as a bus for one year before being converted to a lorry!
AF 211 GWR Bus. Copyright Roger Winnen.
Excellent observations, Karl - many thanks indeed.
'Purple Ronnie'
Phil 'Shattered' Smith
57601 calls at Bath Spa on a summers day in 2001 with a First Great Western Service. Wearing a bright purple Porterbrook livery, the locomotive earned the name 'Purple Ronnie' amongst enthusiasts. This was the Brush Traction class 57 (passenger variant) testbed/demonstrator, which led to First Great Western ordering 4 of their own 57/6's and Virgin Trains to order their own fleet of 57/3's. 57601, being non-standard compared to the production 57/6's, was sold to West Coast Railway Company, where it remains today working The Northern Belle luxury excursion trains. Copyright Phil Smith.
Many thanks Phil. A common sight here in the west for many years - much to the frustrations of the local enthusiasts who would be 'bowled' by it when hoping for a 47!
The last 2+8?
Paul Barlow
43004 leading and 43042 0810 Laira to Ely 5Q43 wait at Exeter St Davids. 08.01.2026, copyright Paul Barlow.
43004 leading and 43042 0810 Laira to Ely 5Q43 wait at Exeter St Davids. 08.01.2026, copyright Paul Barlow.
43004 leading and 43042 0810 Laira to Ely 5Q43 with a full 8 coach set leaving Exeter St Davids. 08.01.2026, copyright Paul Barlow.
43042 on the rear of the set at it heads off towards Ely for storage. 08.01.2026, copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Paul, well captured.